Heart Issue

DEVOTION

PROVERBS

HEART ISSUE

Prov 19:3

3 A man's own folly ruins his life, yet his heart rages against the LORD.

NIV

Again we must refer to the interlinear verbiage to get a better understanding of this saying. It reads: the foolishness of man perverts his ways and against the Lord frets his heart, or is angry against the Lord. This speaks mostly to those who refuse the gospel message. At least that would be the easiest way to look at this and thus it does not have much meaning for us believers. But what if it does speak to us? Being believers we would say that we are followers of Jesus. That would mean we do what the Lord tells us to do as well as we do not do whatever he tells us we should not. Yet is that really true? Are we one hundred percent obedient one hundred percent of the time? Are there times when we follow after our own folly? Does our own silliness distract us from the way we should go? What kinds of things or behaviors would qualify as folly or silliness? It would seem anytime we rely on ourselves for anything that would be folly, as we are then not trusting in the Lord, but rather trusting in ourselves. Would that kind of thinking mean our heart is angry at God because he has not supplied all our wants? It would seem we certainly would not say we are angry at God, but if we are pursuing after our own agenda rather than his, it might be we have some issues with him. Could we pursue both ours and his at the same time? Not likely. We cannot serve two masters, we will either love the one or despise the other.

Luke 16:13

13 "No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money." 

NIV

Although our Lord is specifically talking about God and money as being the two masters of our lives, the money in some sense represents our own agenda. Money represents our dependency on self rather than God and that is foolishness. That kind of thinking will be our ruin. That kind of thinking demonstrates we are not trusting God, that our heart rages against him. We cannot just go about living our own lives, pursuing our own agenda, going after our own goals, ambitions, seeking a fulfilling life based on our dreams, and then just incorporate God into our lives. That does not work, it is folly, and it is silliness. We must either serve ourselves or God, we cannot do both. Anytime we try to fulfill our own needs whether they be physical, emotional, or spiritual we have turned our heart against God.

Phil 4:19

19 And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

NIV

It is interesting he does not say he will supply some of our needs, but all according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. So let not our lives be foolish or silly, but let our lives be about seeking first his kingdom, let our hearts chase after God.